I bought a new 7mm WSM and a couple of boxes the cheap blue box ammo (150 gr cup and core for $15.00/box). I figured it would be good to get the scope dialed in and get a good start on some reloadable brass. It shot fine...and I was impressed with how accurate my new gun shot. :-)
I then bought a couple of boxes of "premium" ammo for my hunting needs (140 gr premium bullet $40.00/box). At the range, to check the zero with the new ammo, I set up my chronograph and fired some of the new ammo. It shot the "premium" ammo into the same POI at 100 yards (which surprised me) but I was disappointed that the velocities were a couple hundred fps below what was advertised on the box. Accurate yes....but slower than expected.
I then decided to shoot up some more of the blue box ammo so I had the brass to build some 120 gr loads. I shot them over the chrongraph and was amazed to find that the cheap blue box 150 gr bullets were travelling a couple hundred fps faster than the "premium" 140s. The ES and SD numbers were better, and the groups were fantastic. What a surprise.
Shooting both into deer and elk, I found that the 140 gr premium bullets (Nosler BT) were much more frangible and came apart on deer and elk, neck and shoulder shots. The blue box cup and core 150 gr bullets held together better, and made nice mushrooms when recovered, but most were pass thru.
The performance of the blue box ammo in my opinion surpasses the premium ammo in my gun. So I picked up a bunch more blue boxes...and at $14/box when bought by the case.....I'm a happy camper.
Scott
The darn Federal Blue box 100's shot into less than a half inch at 100 yards out of my Savage .243 thereby outshining my handloads. 